Teheran, 27 Jumadil Awal 1434/8 April 2013 (MINA) – Data recently released by a group of journalists on thousands of offshore bank accounts, show that many US individuals are involved in financial crimes, Press TV reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

According to a report published by the Washington Post, the list was provided by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and includes about 4,000 US individuals, with at least 30 American citizens accused in lawsuits, criminal cases of fraud, money laundering, or other financial misconduct.

The report involves some 2.5 million records of more than 120,000 companies and trusts set up by offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands, in Asia, and the South Pacific.

Among those listed in the report is billionaire fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, convicted in 2011 in one of the United States’ greatest trading scandals.

Paul Bilzerian, convicted of security fraud, is also mentioned in the report.

According to the Washington Post, the data even contained details on some 23 companies tied to an alleged USD 230 million tax fraud in Russia as investigated by attorney Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky was himself accused of fraud and later imprisoned after informing Russian authorities of what he had discovered.

The Russian attorney died under suspicious circumstances in prison in 2009, drawing international attention.

Fraud experts say offshore bank accounts are often used by individuals or companies seeking to conceal complicated financial crimes. (T/P09/P03)